Chapter 2
"Meet me for a beer," House had told Wilson twenty minutes prior over the phone. Wilson had begrudgingly left his apartment and they were now at a table in a dive bar, nursing pints while House sat silently surveying the room and Wilson waited for whatever was on his mind to be revealed. House acted casual, though, and as if all was right with the world. His case was solved and the patient was on the mend.
"Why are we here?" Wilson finally asked.
"Because I wasn't going to the cheesy martini bar you suggested," House answered.
"I don't mean 'here' as in location. I mean, why aren't you home?" Wilson probed.
"Are any of us ever really 'home,' Wilson?" House deflected, still not meeting his eyes.
"Are you fighting with Cuddy?" Wilson continued.
"No, no," House said, finally sitting forward a bit and acknowledging the beginning of a conversation. "She's just gonna be all nostalgic and annoying when I get there. I'm hoping she'll be asleep."
"Why nostalgic?" Wilson asked, leaving the annoying part as a matter of opinion.
House sighed. "She found a bunch of old photos my mother sent me. I know she's gonna want me to talk about them and describe my prom date and my high school and my frickin' childhood. I don't wanna get into all that," he explained.
"Why not?" Wilson asked. "She's just curious."
"It's annoying," House repeated. "I don't see the point in reviewing all that stuff from the past. None of it is changeable, so who cares?"
"I don't think changing it is the point," Wilson suggested. "Normal people just like to tell stories about their growing up. And they like to hear the stories of the people in their lives."
"I don't," House replied.
"I realize that," Wilson said. "Note that I said 'normal people.'" House glared at him.
"I prefer people to think I was spawned from the Devil and Clint Eastwood," House said.
"Clint Eastwood?" Wilson exclaimed. "Come on, you're not that cool."
"No problem with the half-Devil prospect, though…" House observed. Wilson gave a small grin.
"What do you mean about changing it anyway? What would Cuddy want you to change about your prom experience?" Wilson teased.
"She's gonna want to experience the same backseat magic that girl did," House explained with a smirk, "And frankly, I'm exhausted today."
"I understand," Wilson replied. "I'm sure Cuddy will to. Just tell her you'll hump her for two and a half minutes in the backseat tomorrow," he suggested. "House, just tell her you don't want to talk about it if she gets on whatever sore subject you're trying to avoid. She's used to you being evasive and hiding things."
House nodded to himself. "What if it's all sore subjects?" he countered.
"Then that's your problem, not Cuddy's," Wilson pointed out.
House looked at him. "I need to find a new drinking buddy, Wilson."
"Good luck with that," he replied.